Every day starts the same. You wake up, open your eyes, look at your bedroom ceiling and start your day. Your morning routine might be repetitious, but the gift of eyesight should not be taken for granted. Your eyes cannot properly function if denied the proper nutrients. Understanding how your eyes work and remain healthy is crucial in maintaining both eye health and overall wellness.

Your eyes are susceptible to many health problems throughout a lifetime, particularly that of macular degeneration as we age. Whether eye issues have yet to become a problem for you, the fact is is that your eyes demand good care over time in order to function properly.

Stay active by exercising regularlyExercise is a key part of any healthy routine, and is especially important for eye health. In fact, regular exercise has been shown to help reduce the risk of eye conditions such as cataracts and macular degeneration. Physical activity increases heart rate, making heart muscles work more efficiently for better blood circulation to the entire body. This includes reduced pressure to nerves including the ocular nerve within the eye. Excess ocular nerve pressure can lead to vision disorders, and in extreme cases, irreversible blindness.

In a study conducted by Tufts University, a direct link was found between healthy weight maintenance and healthy eyes. Researchers found a strong correlation between living healthy and overall eye health. Diet and exercise naturally fight the trend of obesity, which is a natural cause of type II diabetes. If left untreated, diabetes deteriorates vision in adults and can eventually lead to blindness. Committing to exercise and staying active on a daily basis is one of the best and easiest things you can do to support long-term eye health.

Maintain a diet high in nutrientsIt may seem obvious, but a diet high in nutrients naturally helps your eyes remain healthy. Leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale and broccoli, for example, contain important nutrients known to combat the risk of cataracts.

Beta-carotene and Vitamin ABeta-carotene can be found in in carrots and other fruits and vegetables. It is converted into Vitamin A once inside the body and offers natural protection to the cornea, which is essential for good vision. A study performed in 2011 at Columbia University found that an altered form of Vitamin A might be able to slow the progression of Stargardt’s disease, an inherited eye disease that causes severe vision loss in young people.

Omega-3 fatty acidsOmega-3 fatty acids are vital to eye health in early development. Found in breast milk and also added to infant formula, omega-3 fatty acids support normal and healthy vision in newborn babies. In a Harvard University study, healthy pre-term infants fed omega 3-supplemented formula showed significantly better visual acuity at 2 and 4 months compared to those who were fed formula without omega-3 fatty acids. The presence of omega-3 fatty acids in pregnant women is central to healthy vision development for their infants.

ZincZinc is known as a “helper molecule” for the body. It transfers Vitamin A from the liver to the retina to produce an important chemical called melanin, a protective pigment in the eye. Found in both the retina and choroid, or the vascular tissue lying under the retina, zinc is heavily concentrated within the eye. Zinc is also associated with helping the eye see better at night.

When we’re young and our eyes are healthy, it’s easy to forget about the vital function our eyes play. Many of us only realize the effect time has on our eyes later in life after much of the damage is already done. That doesn’t have to be the case.

Although some eye conditions remain genetic, the chance of developing many eye diseases can be reduced with proper care. With 22 million Americans over the age of 40 and more than half the population at age 80 having cataracts, it’s time to be aware of the nutritional needs of one of the most important organs in your body right now. Reliv can support those needs.

It’s a fact of life that our bodies wear down over time. However, just because your body is aging doesn’t mean it stops working, and that includes your eyes. ReversAge® offers youth-promoting ingredients, such as Omega-3 fatty acids, that promote eye health.

Reliv can help support healthy eyes at any age. Reliv Now® is loaded with the essential nutrition your body and eyes need, including pycnogenol and Vitamin A to remain sharp and focused throughout your day. Reliv Now® for Kids includes Omega-3 fatty acids as an extra boost for optimal eye development in children.

When it comes to eye health, let Reliv help you keep things in focus.

To your health,

Dr. Carl Hastings

Reliv Vice Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer

This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA. Reliv products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Anna is Reliv's spring marketing intern from Des Moines, Iowa who is currently pursuing her Masters in Communication from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. As a former collegiate student-athlete, Anna loves staying active but also enjoys relaxing with a good book or movie night. Some of her favorite things include her dog, Bubba, traveling, and spending time with her friends and family.